Intel Core i5-560M

The Intel Core i5-560M is a dual-core mobile processor from Intel's Arrandale generation, built on a 32 nm process. It offers two cores and four threads via Hyper-Threading, with a base clock of 2.67 GHz and a boost clock of 3.20 GHz. The chip carries a 35 W TDP, supports DDR3 memory, and uses PCIe Gen 2. It is an end-of-life product, and benchmark results place it at the 11th percentile among all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 559.

Single-Thread vs Multi-Thread Behavior

The benchmark data reveals a clear split between single-thread and multi-thread performance. In Cinebench R20, the single-core score is 95, while the multi-core score reaches 678. The R23 version shows a single-core score of 228 and a multi-core score of 1615. Geekbench reports a single-core score of 392 and a multi-core score of 745. These numbers indicate that the processor scales reasonably well when all four threads are engaged, but the absolute values are low by modern standards.

The single-thread scores are particularly telling. An R20 single-core score of 95 and an R23 single-core score of 228 place this chip far below contemporary desktop parts. For everyday tasks that rely on one or two threads—such as web browsing, office applications, or legacy software—the 3.20 GHz boost clock helps mitigate the age of the architecture, but the underlying Westmere design still limits responsiveness. Multi-threaded workloads, such as video encoding, 3D rendering, or batch photo processing, benefit from the four threads, but the two physical cores cap the scaling. The R23 multi-core score of 1615 versus the single-core score of 228 shows that the Hyper-Threading implementation extracts meaningful parallelism, though the total throughput remains modest. The Geekbench multi-core score of 745 against a single-core score of 392 indicates a smaller scaling factor, suggesting that Geekbench's multi-thread test does not stress the threads as heavily as Cinebench does.

In practice, this chip will feel sluggish in modern single-threaded applications, but it can still handle light multi-threaded tasks. The data suggests that the i5-560M is best suited for basic productivity and legacy workloads, not for demanding modern software. The gap between single and multi scores also implies that users who can parallelize their work will see a benefit, but the absolute performance level is too low for any serious computational work today.

Power and Thermals

The i5-560M carries a 35 W TDP, which classifies it as a low-power mobile processor. This TDP level allows for compact cooling solutions in laptops and small-form-factor systems. The 32 nm process node helps reduce heat generation, and the die size of 81 mm² with 382 million transistors is modest. Because the integrated graphics are a chipset feature rather than part of the CPU die, the processor itself does not add GPU thermal load. The 35 W envelope means that a standard laptop cooling fan and heat pipe assembly can handle it, but sustained loads will still generate noticeable heat. The end-of-life status means that no new thermal designs are being developed for this chip, but existing systems using it are likely already equipped with adequate cooling. For any enthusiast looking to repurpose this chip, a low-profile air cooler designed for mobile sockets would suffice, but the lack of a modern platform limits its utility.

Benchmark Performance

The average benchmark score of 559 places the i5-560M in a tight cluster with its nearest rivals. The AMD PRO A6-8570 scores 560, a 0.1% advantage over the i5-560M. The Intel Atom x5-E3940 scores 557, which is 0.3% lower than the i5-560M. The AMD Opteron 3320 EE scores 561, giving it a 0.3% edge. The Intel Core i3-3130M also scores 557, putting it 0.3% behind the i5-560M. These differences are negligible—well within run-to-run variance. The i5-560M sits at the 11th percentile of all CPUs in the database, meaning it outperforms only 11% of the processors tracked. This is a very low standing, consistent with a mobile dual-core from 2010.

Looking at specific benchmarks, the Cinebench R15 multi-core score is 162, which is extremely low by current standards. The R20 multi-core score of 678 and R23 multi-core score of 1615 show some improvement with newer test versions, but the single-core scores remain in the low hundreds. Geekbench multi-core 745 and single-core 392 reinforce the picture of a chip that is far below the performance of even entry-level modern processors. The 11th percentile ranking is a direct consequence of these low scores. When compared to the nearest rivals, the i5-560M is essentially tied with all of them, indicating that these four processors represent a performance plateau at this level. The benchmark results also show that the chip's multi-core performance is disproportionately higher than its single-core performance, which is a common trait of older Hyper-Threaded dual-cores.

How It Compares

AMD PRO A6-8570: The i5-560M trails the AMD PRO A6-8570 by 0.1% in average score (559 vs 560). This is a statistical dead heat. Both processors are from the same era and deliver nearly identical performance in the aggregate.

Intel Atom x5-E3940: The i5-560M is 0.3% ahead of the Intel Atom x5-E3940, which scores 557. The Atom is a low-power part, but the i5-560M manages a slight edge despite the architectural differences. The delta is small enough to be ignored in real-world use.

AMD Opteron 3320 EE: The i5-560M is 0.3% behind the Opteron 3320 EE, which scores 561. The Opteron is a server-oriented chip, but the performance difference is minimal. Neither processor offers a meaningful advantage over the other.

Intel Core i3-3130M: The i5-560M is 0.3% ahead of the Core i3-3130M, which scores 557. This is a direct comparison to another mobile dual-core, and the i5-560M holds a tiny advantage. The two chips are effectively interchangeable in performance.

Overall, the i5-560M is interchangeable with any of these rivals in terms of average performance. The deltaPct values are all within ±0.3%, meaning that no single rival offers a meaningful performance boost. This is a group of processors that all sit at the same low performance tier, and the i5-560M's position is essentially a tie with all of them.

Platform and Compatibility

The i5-560M uses Intel Socket G1, a mobile-specific socket. This means it is not compatible with desktop motherboards. The chip supports DDR3 memory, but does not support ECC. PCIe Gen 2 is provided, which is sufficient for the era's discrete GPUs and storage controllers. Integrated graphics are available on certain motherboards as a chipset feature, meaning the CPU itself does not include a GPU die; instead, the motherboard's chipset provides the graphics output. This is a key distinction from later Intel processors that integrate graphics on the CPU.

The platform is end-of-life, so there is no upgrade path beyond this processor. Socket G1 was used in laptops and some small-form-factor systems, but no new chips are being produced for it. The 32 nm process and 382 million transistors on an 81 mm² die are historical details that highlight the chip's age. For anyone considering this processor, the lack of modern features such as DDR4 or PCIe Gen 4 is a limiting factor. The memory support is limited to DDR3, which is now obsolete. The PCIe Gen 2 interface can bottleneck modern GPUs, though the processor's performance would be the primary bottleneck in any system. The integrated graphics, when available via the chipset, are also from a bygone era and not suitable for anything beyond basic display output.

FAQ

Q: What is the TDP of the Intel Core i5-560M?

A: The TDP is 35 W.

Q: What type of memory does it support?

A: It supports DDR3 memory.

Q: Does it support ECC memory?

A: No, ECC memory is not supported.

Q: What socket does it use?

A: It uses Intel Socket G1.

Q: What is the boost clock speed?

A: The boost clock is 3.20 GHz.

Q: Is this processor still in production?

A: No, it is end-of-life.